Parts of London’s Oxford Street will be closed to traffic from 26 October, Mayor of London Sir Sadiq Khan has confirmed.

The first phase of the scheme will pedestrianise over half a mile of Oxford Street between Orchard Street and Great Portland Street, with buses, taxis, bicycles and other vehicles excluded from the section.

Khan said the timetable would allow the pedestrianisation to be in place ahead of the busy Christmas trading period.

He described the project as a “bold vision for Oxford Street” and said he was “excited” to see it coming to life.

However, Westminster City Council has raised concerns about the potential impact on surrounding roads, with particular questions over how traffic displaced from Oxford Street will be managed.

Westminster City Council deputy leader Councillor Tim Barnes said the council, local residents and businesses still had “a long list of unanswered questions” about how the scheme would operate.

He said issues including access, air pollution, street cleaning and public safety needed to be addressed urgently.

Barnes also warned that traffic could be pushed onto smaller neighbouring streets, creating what he described as potential “economic and environmental harm”.

The pedestrianisation follows a long-running debate over the future of Oxford Street and its role in London’s transport network, with the scheme intended to create a more attractive and accessible environment for pedestrians while supporting the wider regeneration of the area.

New safety measures are also being developed in partnership with Transport for London (TfL) and the Oxford Street Development Corporation (OSDC).

The focus will now turn to how traffic is managed around the pedestrianised section once the restrictions come into force, and whether surrounding roads have sufficient capacity to accommodate displaced traffic.

Further details of the operational arrangements and safety measures are expected as the October start date approaches.

(Picture: TfL)